Trusted Business Advisor and Community Leader

By Beth Miller

Photo by Tracy Doyle

Frost Brown Todd (FBT) is a full-service law firm with more than 475 attorneys and 11 offices across its seven-state footprint. Its West Chester office, located on the Square at Union Centre, opened in 2009 and has quickly grown to more than 20 attorneys to better serve its clients in Butler, Clermont, Warren and Montgomery Counties.

E. Todd Wilkowski joined the FBT West Chester office last year after serving as general counsel for one of Greater Cincinnati’s largest private companies. Wilkowski grew up all over the world as a “military brat” and originally dreamed of being James Bond. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, he began his career as a counternarcotics/counterterrorism intelligence officer working at the Pentagon and the U.S. embassies in Peru and Ecuador.

After leaving the Air Force, Wilkowski prayerfully discerned his next step. “I didn’t have any lawyers in my family,” says Wilkowski, “but I was passionate about helping people grow and resolve their problems with practical advice and I realized the legal profession would afford me that opportunity.” Wilkowski attended Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach. Upon graduation, he worked for a large Cincinnati-based law firm, then spent seven years as general counsel and corporate secretary for the nation’s largest concrete construction company, Baker Concrete Construction. While working at Baker, Wilkowski oversaw the company’s legal, enterprise risk management, ethics, contracts, compliance and governmental relations functions.

As a member of FBT, Wilkowski focuses his practice on assisting growing private and family-owned businesses with their legal, transactional, human resources, business strategy and enterprise risk management issues. He strives to be these companies’ trusted business advisor who provides practical, proactive advice based on these businesses’ risk appetites and long-range growth plans. “I’m passionate about my clients’ sustainability and long-term success,” says Wilkowski. “I keep them focused on the big strategic issues and their long-term goals, not just the immediacy of putting out daily fires.”

Wilkowski believes that the success of his clients is also directly tied to the health of the communities where they are located and operate, including his beloved Cincinnati. He has served on several advisory boards since he and his wife Heather moved to Cincinnati in 1998. “I’m passionate about mentoring young people to identify and better operate in their unique, God-given talents and passions so they can become the best versions of themselves,” says Wilkowski.

He currently is a board member for both pureHOPE and the Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati, serving on the SA’s nominating committee. “Most of the organizations I work with are faith-based, because my faith is incredibly important to me and it heavily influences how I try to live my life,” says Wilkowski. “I also like to work with organizations that are making a long-term impact by empowering individuals to overcome their current obstacles and equip them with tools for long-range success.”

He notes how growing up as the child of a military officer gave him a greater appreciation of the importance of community. “As a military brat, I moved all over the world about every two years, and you quickly learn you need to get involved in your community if you’re ever going to assimilate into your new home. Frankly, Cincinnati was a difficult city to transition into, but once you become a part of the city and it embraces you, I can’t think of a better place to live or raise a family.”

Wilkowski and his wife have four children, ranging from ages 7 to 13 who attend Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. He has coached their baseball, lacrosse and football teams. He also served as his neighborhood’s HOA president, upgrading the neighborhood’s infrastructure and amenities to attract new homeowners and retain current residents. “Our businesses are only as strong as the vibrancy of our community,” says Wilkowski. “We have to make sure the communities we serve are and remain incredibly healthy and the best way to do that is by regularly investing our time, talents and treasure in them.”

The Frost Brown Todd West Chester office is located at 9277 Centre Pointe Drive, Suite 300, West Chester, OH45069. You can reach E. Todd Wilkowski at 513.870.8241 or visit their website at www.frostbrowntodd.com.